Huge 12 paid ex-commish $17.2 M in his last year

• Heather Dinich, ESPN Senior WriterMay 23, 2024, 05:38 PM ET

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  • College football reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of Indiana University

Former Big 12 Conference commissioner Bob Bowlsby, who stepped down from his position in 2022, was paid more than $17.2 million in overall settlement for his final year, according to the league’s newest tax records, which were acquired on Thursday by ESPN.Bowlsby was paid$12.26 million for the three years remaining on his contract, and the Huge 12 also paid Bowlsby$15,000 for 6 months of consulting, according to a conference spokesperson. The Big 12 likewise paid Bowlsby another$3.337 million “vested,”according to the league. That consists of$2.6 million the conference had reported as postponed compensation in previous years’tax filings.According to USA Today, which initially reported the numbers, former Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott received 2 severance payments each for$1.5 million in 2021 and 2022. Previous ACC commissioner John Swofford, who retired in June 2021 after 24 years, received nearly$2.6 million in 2022 from the ACC, according to USA Today, and almost all of it was reported as base pay.Big 10 commissioner Jim Delany made nearly$5.9 million in 2022, according to USA Today, consisting of$2.8 million in deferred payment reported on prior years ‘returns. In July 2015, Delany became qualified for more than $20 million in future benefits and will be receiving them over a 10-year span, through the 2027 calendar year.Bowlsby was selected commissioner in 2012, following defections from Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado and Texas A&M to other leagues.

He included TCU and West Virginia and had the ability to maintain the Huge 12’s function as a Power 5 league and reinstated the conference’s title game in 2017. In April 2022, the Big 12 announced Bowlsby would “step away” from his task leading the league. The Huge 12, which doesn’t

need to divulge its employment arrangements because it’s a private, non-profit organization, decreased to provide ESPN with a copy of Bowlsby’s contract.Bowlsby was one of 4 members of the College Football Playoff management committee who authored the original prepare for a 12-team field proposed in June

2021, in addition to former Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, former Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.